IT WAS a joyous day for hundreds of families in the Belait District, as His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam spent the whole day meeting many of his elated subjects who became proud recipients of new houses under National Housing Scheme and Landless Indigenous Citizens Housing Scheme (STKRJ) in three different locations.

Part of the ruler’s busy itinerary yesterday was also visits to two schools and an established local company in the district.

After consenting to stopover at numerous houses of the housing scheme recipients, His Majesty also happily shared his thoughts on the quality of the new houses.

His Majesty gave the royal seal of approval by saying “okay” when a Bulletin reporter asked what the monarch thought about the design and other features of the houses. To reiterate his point again, His Majesty briefly turned back to say, “I have in fact nothing else to add as they are all okay.”

When asked what His Majesty’s National Day message would be for the people of Brunei Darussalam, the ruler said, “Work hard.”

Earlier in the morning, His Majesty, donning his army uniform, arrived at the Convention Centre in Jalan McKerron, Kuala Belait for the House Key Plaque Presentation ceremony where the monarch consented to present a total of 579 recipients with house key plaques to their new homes.

On arrival, His Majesty was greeted by the Minister of Development, Pehin Orang Kaya Indera Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Suyoi bin Haji Osman; the Minister of Home Affairs, Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Badaruddin bin Pengarah Dato Paduka Haji Awang Othman; and Belait District Officer, Awg Hj Haris bin Othman.

A total of 142 recipients were granted with semi-detached and terrace houses under the STKRJ Mumong, 184 recipients were awarded with basic and terrace houses under the Lumut/Sungai Liang National Housing Scheme, while another 253 recipients were awarded with semi-detached and terrace houses under the Lorong Tengah Seria National Housing Scheme.

While thanking His Majesty on behalf of all the recipients, the Belait District Officer in his welcoming speech said that the gift His Majesty was awarding the people “will give them a much more comfortable life and improve their living standards” and added that it demonstrates His Majesty and the Government of His Majesty’s continuous endeavour to improve their welfare and security. A ‘doa selamat’ was later read by the Belait Syariah Court Judge to bless the occasion.

Following the House Key Plaque Presentation ceremony, His Majesty consented to tour a Bumiputra owned company at the Pekan Belait Industrial Site, PTAS Sdn Bhd which has been in operation since 1984.

The company today provides a wide range of services to the energy industry in the country and its head office houses facilities such as offices, warehousing, workshops, inspection and training facilities spanning over an area of approximately seven acres.

The company also operates two facilities totalling four acres in Muara.

Throughout His Majesty’s tour at PTAS Sdn Bhd, its Managing Director, Hj Amir bin Hj Osman accompanied the monarch.

As part of the day’s itinerary, His Majesty also toured the Pengiran Setia Jaya Pengiran Abdul Momin Primary School in Jalan Pandan 6, Kuala Belait and Pengiran Jaya Negara Pengiran Haji Abu Bakar Secondary School in Jalan Pandan 7, Kuala Belait where the monarch spent time interacting with students, teachers and staff from both schools to learn more on their progress and development and toured the facilities.

His Majesty also stopped over at the house of Kg Pandan ‘B’ Village Head, Awg Haji Abdul Malik bin Abu Bakar.

His Majesty later visited several houses at the STKRJ Mumong including the house of Dk Hjh Azlinawati Pg Haji Ahmad, a terrace house Type D recipient and Awang Hassanal Seri Puspa bin Haji Abdul Rashid, a semi-detached house recipient.

Along the way, the caring monarch fulfilled the wishes of many lucky house recipients by accepting their humble invitations to visit their houses.

His Majesty continued to visit more houses at the Lumut/Sungai Liang National Housing Scheme and the Lorong Tengah, Seria National Housing Scheme before ending the day’s programme with a luncheon. - Borneo Bulletin (21 February 2013)